A new video posted online shows an impressive DIY virtual reality glove that uses haptic feedback to allow users to “feel” objects in virtual reality.
Virtual reality gamers looking for the next big leap can race to the nearest 3D printer after seeing an impressive TikTok video showing off a homemade haptic glove that lets users “feel” objects in VR. This amazing DIY project lets gamers who aren’t afraid to DIY get a glimpse into the future of VR for about the same price as a new game for the Quest 2.
After a series of false starts dating back to the 1990s, consumer VR finally got a moment in the spotlight with the launch of the Oculus Quest in 2019. While hobbyist VR headsets had already been available for several years, and the PC- The only powerhouse Valve Index launched a few months later, the Oculus Quest served as an affordable and easy-to-use introduction to virtual reality for millions of people. Even though the consumer VR space has become more crowded in recent years, with several companies offering both connected and standalone headsets, controllers for VR games have remained relatively unchanged and still draw inspiration from the design of traditional console controllers.
In a Linus Tech Tips clip posted on TikTok, tech influencer Linus Sebastian is seen trying out the LucidGloves DIY haptic glove for VR designed by hobbyist inventor Lucas De Bonet. The impressive LucidGloves use a series of strings and motors to create resistance by pulling on users’ fingers when they grab an object, giving the impression of clinging to something in virtual reality. Linus is visibly impressed in the video as he picks up a keycard in a popular VR game bonelab and being able to feel the thin profile of the card in his hand.
The LucidGloves, blueprints for which are available for download on the LucidVR GitHub page, first went viral in 2020 when inventor De Bonet showed off the first version of the gloves. Requiring a 3D printer and around $60 in hardware to assemble, the LucidGloves offer a significantly cheaper alternative to commercial VR haptic products like the Haptx gloves, which cost nearly $6,000 a pair and require a monthly hardware subscription. Even as advanced haptics in PlayStation VR2 controllers show that there are still innovations going on in control options for VR, the LucidGloves represent a glimpse into the future of VR gaming.
With their unwieldy appearance, limited support in VR games, and requiring users to assemble them themselves, these gloves are clearly not for everyone. But for gamers with some spare cash and time, they could make a fun weekend project to get a glimpse of the future of VR. Unfortunately, since the gloves only work with PC VRplayers will not be able to use them to clap Notorious BIG in the Metaverse during the fire rapper Meta Horizon Worlds concert next week.
